Loading and discharging wagon-body.



G. R. TANSILL.

LOADING AND DISGHARGING WAGON BODY.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

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G. R. TANSILL.

LOADING AND DISGHARGING WAGON BODY.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 16, 1912.

1,038,230. Patented Sept. 10,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

e 0 oz G. R. TANSILL.

LOADING AND DISGHABGING WAGON BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1912.

1,038,230. Pa ented Sept. 10,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

i.- Wibwwwo J J 5 \N I 33 Gimme 0. R. TANSILL.

LOADING AND DISGHARGING WAGON BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16 1912,

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

CHARLES R. 'rANsILL; on NEW YoR-x, 'r;.- Y.="

' Specification of Letters Patent.

LOADING- AND DISCHA RGING WAGON-BODY.

Patented Sept. 10,1912.

Application filed, January 16, 1912. Serial No. 671,448. I

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that 1', CHARLES R. TANSILL,

New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have. invented a new and useful Loading and Discharging Wagon-Body,

of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates to a loading and d1s charging Wagon body having a flexible bottom or bed which moves forwardly orrearwardly on an upper horizontal rail plane and on an underlying and parallel rail plane, and the objects of my invention are to provide, (1) a loading and discharging wagon body in which bulky articles may be placed on the flexible bed atthe rear end of the bed andin turn moved forward with the flexible bed untilthe wagon body is fully loaded, andwhereby the load may be discharged by'reverse-movement of the flexible bed,- (2) a loading and discharging wagon body for carrying high grade-brick,tiles and similar articles which are'liable to be chipped or broken,, (3) a loading and discharging wagonbody for carryin sand, cement or liquid asphalt, (4') a loa ing and discharging wagonbody from which the load may be discharged in .mass, or in disconnected portions, or continuously,v thatv is, spread, va loading anti dischargingwagon body provided with means for scraping or cleaning the flexible bed thereof. (6) a loading and discharging wagon body having sides capable of being expanded or spread apart,- thereby removing the points of contact or friction of the load on the sides should such contact or friction arise and form a jam or dam of the load and interfere with the discharging thereof, and a loading and discharging wagon body. having sides capable of being expanded orspread, thereby pro viding a wagon body of increased width and particularly available for furniture vans in receiving articles of furniture of unusual size or width. I accomplish these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1, is a side elevation of my loading and discharging wagon body. mounted upon wheel supports. Fig. 2, is a'vertical wheel supports with part of'the wagon body in section. Fig. 4, is a detail section 1 of the rail, flexible bed, cable clips and beda citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn of the city ofsupports of my loading and dischargin wagon body. vFig. 5, is 'a' detail sectiona view of my loading and discharging wagon body on the line 55 ofFig. 4. Fig. 6, is a detail sectionalview of a side-and the means for supporting and expanding or spreading the side of my loading and discharging wagonbody. Fig. 7, is a. detail sectional View of the manner of sprocket shaft. 1

- Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout ,the several views.

My loading and discharging wagon body comprises in its main features the rails, 10, a flexible bed or bottom, 11, sides, 12, cables, 13, wind and unwind wheels, 14, for the cables, and a seat or drivers extension, 15, the device being supported by secure and suitable means of attachment to cross-bars, 16, fastened to the bars of the springs and running gear of the wheel support.

The rails, 10, are preferably ofmetal, two" in number and are arranged one rail on supporting the either side of the wagon body. Each rail,

10, is in the form of a U lying upon its side orhorizont-ally with the opening of the U towardthe front of the wagon body, and in cross-section is of channel form, the flanges forming the channels extending inward toward the interior of the wagon body, the effect of the use of this horizontally placed U form of rail being to provide an upper horizontal rail channel or rail-plane extend-J ing rearward from the seat or drivers extension, 15, of the wagon body and turning downward at the rounded end of the U and continuing forward in an'underslying and parallel rail-channel or rail-plane.

Posts or pillars. 17, consisting of vertical nlat-es flanged. at their tops and bottoms are fastened by their-flanges between the upper and the under-lying portions of the rails. 10. to give rigidity to the rails, 10. Each of the posts or pillars. 17 ,-is provided with a horizontally extending stud. 18. projecting outward from the post or pillar, 17 the purpose of which is hereinafter more fully set forth.

Longitudinal bed support-s. 19. of horizontally placed U shape in conformity to the shape of the rails, 10, extend from the seat or drivers extension, 15. rearward, downward and-forward again to the extension, 15, in upper horizontal and underlying and parallel planes. The bed-supports, 19, are attached to cross-bars, 20, fastened to the posts, 17, the upper faces of the upper portions of the bed-supports, 19, and the under faces of the underlying portions of the bed-supports, 19, being arranged to come in contact with the rail engaging surface of the flexible bed, 11, as the bed is moved forwardly or rearwardly. The object of the bed-supports, 19, is threefold: to resist downward pressure on the flexible bed, 11, on its interior surface, to afford additional rail support for the flexible bed, and to provide guides for the cables, 13, as hereinafter more fully shown. The bedsupports, 19, in wagon bodies intended to carry loads of moderate weight may be made of wood, but in wagon bodies for heavy loads they should be of metal.

The flexible bed, 11, is composed of narrow strips or slats, 21, arranged in series transversely of the wagon body with their longitudinal edges in contact, the strips, 21, as a whole forming a bottom or bed on the upper rail plane of the rails, 10, extending, when the wagon body is loaded, from the drivers extension, 15, rearward and downward and around and for a short distance into the underlying rail plane of the rails, 10. Each strip, 21, is flat on its upper or load bearing surface and is rounded on its reverse or rail engaging surface to reduce the friction whenthe strip engages or slides on the flanges of the rails, 10, and on the bed-supports, 19. The strips, 21, are arranged on the rails, 10, reference being had to the strips as lying in the upper rail plane, between the rails, 10, so that the ends of the strips enter the channels of the rails, 10, slide on the lower horizontal flange of the rail channels and clearance of the upper horizontal flange of the rail channels by the upper faces of the strips, 21, while the rounded or reverse faces thereof engage or slide on the lower horizontal flange of the rail channels and on the upper faces of the bed-supports, 19. When the strips, 21, lie in the rail channels of the underlying rail plane of the rails, 10, the position of the fiat and the rounded faces of the strips, 21, are reversed. In wagon bodies for loads of moderate weight the strips, 21, may be of hard wood, but for heavy weight loads they should be of metal.

Each of the strips, 21, is provided with two cable clips, 22, so placed on the strips that when the strips are in position in the channels of the rails, 10, the inner side of each clip, 21, the words inner and outer are here used as related to the inner and outer sides of the wagon body, will lie against the outer side of each of the bed-supports, 19, the intention being that the bed-supports. 19, will act as guides for thecables, 13, connecting the strips, 21, and will preserve the clearance of the ends of'the clips in the rail channels and also prevent lateral movementof the strips, 21, between the rails, 10.

Sprockets, 23, are arranged at the rear of my wagon body between the rounding portions of the rails, 10, the sprockets, 23, being attached to and turning with an idle shaft, 24, journaled ateach' of its ends in plates, 25, attached to the rails, 10, the shaft, 24, being provided with interior bearing supports, 26, Fig. 7, consisting of plates with holes to receive the shaft, 24, attached to the inner sides of the bed-supports, 19. The teeth of the sprockets, 23, conform to the round of the rail engaging faces of the strips, 21, composing the bed, 11, the intention of the sprocket-s, 23, being to strengthen and support the strips, 21, at the point where the load is received and also by engaging with the strips, 21, to assist them in taking the rounding end of the rails, 10, and facilitate the forward and rearward movement of the bed, 11, on the rails, 10.

A fore-end, 27 of substantially the same height as the sides, 12, is attached to the most forwardly of the strips, 21, of the bed, 11, so as to move forwardly and rearwardlv with the strip, 21, to which it is attached. The fore end, 27 is provided with sliding extensions, 28, the object of which is hereinafter more fully set forth. The intention Iof the fore-end, 27, is to afford a means for containing and discharging sand, cement, liquid asphalt and similar material in and from my wagon body. The fore-end, 27, may be made removable if desirable.

The cables, 13, pass through the cable clips, 22, from one end of the bed, 11, to the other, and are provided at each end with a stop and take up member, 29, hearing against the clips, 22, on the end strips, 21, of the bed, 11, the take up feature thereof being intended to remedy any slackening of the cable, 13. v

The cables, 13, are operated by wind and unwind wheels, 14, attached to and turning with a shaft, 30, journaled in each side of the drivers extension, 15, of my wagon body. The shaft, 30, may be further strengthened by journal bearings located in the interior of the extension, 15, if necessary to enable it to withstand the strain of the cables, 13, on the wheels, 14. The wind and unwind wheels, 14, and cables, 13, are so arranged that the revolution of the wheels, 14, causes one set of the cables, 13, upper or lower as the case may be, to be wound up on the wheels, 14, while the other set of cables is released or played out correspondingly, thus imparting to the bed, 11, a forward and rearward motion. The strain on the cables, 13, to wind them up is arranged against the stop and take up members, 29, at the extreme ends of these cables, the intention of this arrangement being that such at their edges, thus affording a bed sur-' face without openings or interstices and adapted to contain sand, cement, liquid asphalt and similar material. The shaft, 30, may be operated from the ground by one man by a crank-handle onjone side or by two men by a crank-handle on each side of my wagon body, or the shaft, 30,1naybe operated by the .driver from his seat by suitable means brought within his reach.

The sides, 12, are sup orted in vertical position by brackets, 31, aving vertical orupward extending portions attached to the outer faces of the sides, 12, horizontally extending portions bearing on the upper flange surface of the rails, 10, and downward y extending portions with eyes, 32, at their lower ends which engage or fit over and bear on the horizontally extending studs, 18, of theposts, 17, the intention of the brackets, 31, being to support the sides, 12, in a vertical position so that their bottoms just clear the load surface of the flexible bed, 11, with a space intervening between the outer faces of the sides at then bottoms and the inner edges of the rails 10, while the weight of the sides 12, is borne by the horizontally extending portions of the brackets, 31, bearing upon the upper flange surfaces of the rails, 10, and by the eyes, 32, of the brackets, 31, bearing upon the studs, 18, the sides, 12, thus being permitted to be moved outward or spread the distance of the space intervening between the outer face of the sides, 12. at their bottoms and the inner edge of the rails, 10, Fig. 6. The spreading of the sides, 12, is effected by screw-threaded memhere, 33, turning loosely in holes in the sides, 12, near the front and, rear ends of the wagon body. The members, 33, havea head on the interior of the sides, 12, and a shoulder on the exterior of the sides to hold the member in place in the sides. The members, 33, operate in plates, 34, having a screwthreaded hole to receive the member, attached to and extending upward from the rails, 10, in correspondence with the osition of the holes above mentioned in the sldes, 12, the efiect of screwing the members, 33, outward orinward in the plates, 34, being to pull out or push in the sides, 12, and give a sliding movement to the sides. The members, 33, also hold the sides, 12, rigid vertically. For convenience the members, 33', may be provided with heads to receive the same crank-handle that is used to operate the wind and unwind wheels, 14.

The drivers extension, 15, of my wagon body comprises sides, a back, a front and a seat for the driver or operator, and may be provided on its front with the usual footplatform for the driver. The extension, 15,

is supported by forwardly extendin' p01? tions of the rails, 10, and is secure at tached thereto, and is of such form an construction as to provide for the locating, operating and strain of the wind and unwind wheels, 14, andthe wheels,'40, for the tail gate cables.

My loading and discharging wagon body is provided with a tail board or tail (gate, 35. The tail gate, 35, in width exten s from outeredge to outeredge of the rails, 10, and

in height is the same as the sides, 12. Y

' The ta1l-gate,-35, at its bottom has a beveled edge, 36, which if the tail gate be made of wood should be iron shod, the vertical portion. of the beveled edge, 36, being, to ward the interior of the wagon body, and provided at its ends with rectangular. re cesses, 37', to permit the beveled edge to be brought into scraping contact with the load surface of the bed, 11, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

A cable, 38, is attached to the front face of the tail gate, 35, at each of the outer edges of the face and near the top of the tail gate, passing over an idle or guide wheel, 39, on each of the sides, 12, near the tops thereof and thence forward to a winding or drum wheel, 40, on each of the sides of the drivers extension, 15. The wheels, 40, are attached to and turn with a shaft 41, ournaled in the sides of the drivers extension, 15, and extending across the extension, 15, the winding wheels, 40, being operated by suitable means attached to the shaft, 41, within reach of the driver. The cables, 38, are so arranged on the winding wheels, 40, that they will wind and unwind uniformly. One of the winding wheels 40, is provided with a ratchet wheel, 42, and pawl, 43, to control the winding and unwinding of the cables, 38.

A link bar, 44, is pivoted at its right end on each edge of the tail gate, 35, at the bottom of the tail gate near the beveled edge 36, thereof, and at its forward end to an intermediate link bar, 45, which is pivoted on a plate, 46, attached to the under side of each of the rails, 10. A sliding arm, 47 is pivoted at its rear end to each of the interthrough a guide, 48, attached to one of the posts, 17, on each of the outer sides of the Wagon body and thence forward and along the extension, 15, where it is connected with its companion sliding arm, 47 of the other side of my wagon body by a transverse bar, 49. A locking means, 50, consisting of a pin engaging holes in the arm, 47, and in the side of the extension, 15, is used to hold the arms, 47, in a. desired position, but instead of a pin and holes any suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

The sliding arms, 47, are of the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and are intended shown in outline,'Fi 1, and then to draw the tail gate forwar into closing relation with the ends of the sides, 12, and the load surface of the bed, 11, at the rear of the wagon body. 1 To permit distributive or partial discharge of the load when the tail gate is/in closing position pressure is applied to the transverse bar, 49, and the cables, 38, unwound, when the action of the sliding arms, 47, intermediate link bars, 45, and link bars, 44, will push the tail gate outwardly into relation of clearance with the ends of the sides of the wagon body and the load surface of the bed regulated by the unwinding of the cables, 38, and the amount of pressure on the transverse bar, 49. To discharge in mass the cables, 38, are released and pressure on the transverse bar,

49, '='relieved when the tail gate, 35, will swing around and downward into a position under the U rails, Fig. 1.

If the extension, 15, is provided with a foot platform forthe driver operation of the bar, '49, may be had by suitable means extendin from the bar, 49, through the foot-plat orm within reach of the driver.

For the purpose of cleaning the load surface of the bed, 11, y brushing it off, a brush, '51,

wagon body and turns with a shaft, 52 journaled at each of its ends in a bracket, 53, attached to the under side of each of the rails, 10, near the rear end of the wagon body. The brush, 51, is operated by a sprocket wheel, 54, at each of its ends turning with theshaft, 52; Each of the sprocket wheels, 54, is connectedby a sprocket chain,

wheel, 56, attached to each of the outer ends of and turnin with the shaft, 30, of the wind and unwin wheels, 14, the sprocket chain, 55, having an upper roller guide, 57, and an under roller guide, 58, attached to the under portionof each of the rails, 10, at the forward end of the rails, the intention being that when the wind and unwind wheels, 14,-

are operated to draw the bed, 11, forward or rearward in the underlying rail plane of the rails, 10, the brush, 51, being in contact with the load surface, in reverse from its load or normal position, of the bed, 11, will revolve and brush oflt'the load surface of the bed, 11.

bles,

preferably ofwire, is rovided. 'The brush, 51 extends transverse y of my rearward by the revolution of the wind and unwind wheels, 14, and the pull of-the'-'ca- 13, sothat the eater portion of the .bed, 11, is in the un erlying rail plane of the rails,'10, with sufficient of the bed, 11, remaining in the upper rail plane to receive the load at the rear end of the wagon body, the tailgate, 35, first having been lowered to a position out of the way. The articles composing the load are then placed piece by piece upon the bed 11, the bed being drawn forward by operation of the wheels, 14, and cables, 13, as necessary until the wagon body is fully loaded, when the tail gate is raised to a closing position and the loaded wagon is ready to proceed to its destination. To unload the'operation is reversed, the flexible bed, 11, being moved rearward and the articles composing the load taken therefrom as each in turn reaches the rear end of the wagon body. Such articles as bales, barrels, boxes, brick and tile may be loadedand unloaded in tiers. It is thus seen thatmy loading and discharging wagon body obviates the necessity for a man in loading or unloading to work within the body itself, that is carrying into and setting in place the various articles composing-the load, the articles instead being placed in load position at the rear end of the wagon body and 'taken from and brought to him again at the rear end of the wagon body, without the labor of lifting or rolling the bodies of the customary form.

If any of the articles composing the load should bind or jam against the sides of my wagon body and interfere with the free movement of the bed, 11,- the contact may be removed by spreading or expandin the sides of my wagon body by means 0% the bracket, 31, with eyes, 32, and the spreading members, 33, hereinbefore described. Additional width between the sides may be obtained by the same means should such additional width be required, as to load a piece of furniture of unusual width, or it may be desirable to increase the capacity of the wagon body to carry a larger load of sand, liquid asphalt or similar material, in which case the fore end, 27, may be extended to meetthe greater width between the sides by drawing outward the sliding extensions, 28, thereof.

To discharge the load in mass when the load is capable of discharge in this manner, such as earth, sand or liquid asphalt, the tail gate, 35, is dropped out of the way and the flexible bed, 11, moved rearward until all the material is drawn beyond the rear end of the wagon body and deposited upon articles as in the case of wagon wagon body is as to lows -To gate and the load surface of the flexible;

bed, 11, and if the bed be moved rearward the material will fall from the wagon body through this space, the amount so discharged being governed by the width of this space, and the length of time this space is kept open while the flexible bed, 11, is moved rearward.

In unloading fine sand, liquid asphalt or;

comprising parallel rails of horizontal U similar material, such material may work into the channels of "therails, 10, at the extreme ends of the strips, 21, of the bed, 11, as the strips, 21, in moving rearwardly make the turn of the rounded end of the rails,

10, due to the fiat upper surfaces of the strips. 21. To obviate this a guard, 59, Fig. 4, is attached to each end ofthe strips 21,

and arranged just to clear the upper flanges of the rails, 10, and prevent the entrance of the sand or other materials into the rail channels, such guards, 59, being fitted only on my wagon bodies intended to carry sand,

liquid asphalt and similar materials. Forward and rearward movement of the bed,; 11, will then. cause the beveled edge, 36,; v to scrape the load surface of the bed, 11, and at the same time the brush, 51, which a is arranged to revolve by the same operation which causes the bed, 11, to move forwardly and rearwardly, being in contact with the load surface of the bed, 11, in the underlying tail plane will brush off the rails, 10, and the surface of the bed supports, 19, engaging the rounded faces of thestrips, 21, composing the bed, 11, may be t said rails being of channel form in crossflanges of the channels towaid the interiorof the wagon body, the forwardly extending portions of each rail forming an upper horizontal rail channel and an underlying rail channel parallel thereto, a series of strips arranged transversely of the U rails having their ends engaging the channels of the rails and their longitudinal edges in contact, said series of strips extending rearwardly in the upper rail channels of the U rails and downwardly and in conformity to the rounded ends of the channels thereof into the underlying rail channels, each strip having a fiat face to receive the load and a rounded face to engage the rails, cables connected to the roun ed faces of the strips and to wind and unwind wheels for moving,

the strips conformably to the horizontal U rails, the cables having end stops whereby the strain of the wind and unwind wheels on the cables to move the strips maintains the contact of the strips at their edges, means for operating the wind, and unwind wheels, and interior supports for the strips and guides for the cables extending longitudinally between the horizontal U rails and conforming to the shape thereof; substani tially as set forth.

2. A loading and discharging wagon body shape with the rounded ends thereof toward the rear of the wagon body, said rails being of channel form in cross-section with the flanges of the channels toward the interior of the wagon body, the forwardly extending portions of each rail forming an upper horizontal rail channel and an underlying rail channel parallel thereto, a series of strips arranged transversely of the U rails with their ends engaging the channels thereof and their longitudinal edges in contact, each strip having a fiat face to receive the load and a rounded face to engage the rails, said series of strips extending rearwardly in the upper horizontal channels of the U rails and downwardly and in conformity to the rounded ends of the channels thereof into the underlying rail channels and movable in conformity to the horizontal U rails, and cables connected to the rounded faces of the strips having end stops whereby the strain on the cables maintains the contact of the strips at their edges; substantially as set forth.

3. In a loading and discharging wagon body the combination of parallel rails of horizontal U shape with the rounded ends thereof toward the rear of the wagon body, v

section with the flanges of the channels toward the interior of thewagon body, the forwardly extending portions of each rail formingan upper horizontal rail channel and an underlying rail channel parallel thereto, a series of connected strips arranged transversely of the U rails with their ends engaging the channels thereof each strip having a flat face to receive the load and a rounded face to engage the rails, said series of strips extending rearwardly in the upper horizontal rail channels and downwardly and in conformity to the rounded ends of the U rails into the underlying rail channels and movable in conformity to the horizontal nels of the rounded ends 0 lying rail channel U rails, and sprocket-wheels fixed to and turning with a shaft located transversely of the U rails at the rounded ends thereof, said sprocket wheels having teeth engaging the rounded faces of the stri s to assist the strips in moving conforma l "to thechand rails; substantially as set forth.

4. In a loading and discharging wagon body the combination of parallel rails of horizontal U shape with their rounded ends towa the rear of the wagon body, said railsg of channel form in cross-section with flanges of the channels toward the inter of "the wagon body, the forwardly extending portions of each rail forming an upper horizontal rail channel and an underparallel thereto, sides, and brackets attached to the sides engaging horizontally extending studs attached to said upper and underlying rail channels for supportmg the sides in vertical position and permitting horizontal movement of the sides outwardly and inwardly in their vertical posit-ion; substantially as set forth.

, 5. In a loading and discharging wagon bod the combination of parallel rails of orizontal U shape with their rounded ends toward the rear of the wagon body, said rails hain of channel form in crosssection with t e flanges of the channels toward the interior of the wagon body, the forwardly-extending portions of each rail forming an upper horizontal rail channel and an underlying rail channel parallel thereto, sides, brackets attached to the sides engaging horizontally extending studs attached to said upper and underlying rail channels for supporting the sides in vertical position and ermitting horizontal movement of the sides outwardly and inwardly in their vertical position, and means for moving the sides outwardly and inwardly in nels of the U rails and extending rearwardly iu the upper horizontal rail channels and toward the downwardly and in conformity to the channels of the rounded ends of the U rails into the underlymg rail channels and movable conformably to the horizontal U rails, sides, a tall gate, and means for bringing the tail gate into relations of contact or regulated clearance with the ends of the sides of the wagon bod and the load surface of the flexlble be and for bringing the bottom edge of the tail gate into scraping contact with the load surface of the flexible bed; substantially as set forth.

7. In a loading and discharging wagon body the combmation of parallel rails of horizontal U shape with their rounded ends rear of the wagon body, said rails hem of channel form in cross-section w1th the anges of the channels toward the interior of the; wagon body, the forwardly extending portlons of each rail forming an upper horizontal rail channel and an underlying rail channel parallel thereto, a flexible bed having its edges engaging the channels of the horizontal U rails and extending rearwardly in the upper horizontal rail channels and downwardly and in conformity' to the channels of the rounded ends of the U rails into the underlying rail channels and movable conformably to the horizontal U-rails, sides, a tail gate having a beveled bottom edge with a recess in each end of the edge, cables attached to the inner face of the tail gate near the top thereof, guide wheels for the cables on the sides of the wagon body at the upper rear ends thereof, winding wheels for the cables on said sides at the front ends thereof, means for operatin and controlling said winding Wheels, link ars pivoted at their rear ends to the sides of the'beveled edge of the tail gate, intermediate link bars pivoted at their upper ends to the forward ends of the link, bars and at their lower ends to plates attached to the under sides of the underlying rail channels, sliding armsvpivoted at their rear ends to the forward ends of the link bars and to the upper ends of the intermediate link bars and extendin forwardly along the sides of the wagon body, guides for the forwardly extending portions of the sliding arms, and a transverse bar connecting said forwardly extending portions; substantially as set forth.

CHARLES R. TANSILL.

Witnesses:

W. H. GEE, S. G. A51. 

